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If there’s one debate that never gets old, it’s who the best player in NBA history is.

Michael Jordan owns that prestigious title in many’s eyes, but during the peak of Kobe Bryant’s career, the Los Angeles Lakers star made a compelling case.

We’ll never have a definitive answer on the matter, since the debate is largely objective and opinion-based. What we do have, however, is endless hours of tape of the two NBA legends making defenders look silly.

In a remarkable video, YouTube user Youssef Hannoun used that tape and some pretty impressive editing skills to show just how similar the games of Jordan and Bryant really were.

Say what you will about who is the better player, but Hannoun’s video — his final installment in a series of three on the two players — shows that Jordan and Kobe are at least in the same ballpark when it comes to their scoring prowess.

Bryant has admitted in the past that he’s modeled part of his game after Jordan, and it’s easy to see why. The debate can continue later, but for now, let’s just bask in the awesomeness that is this video.

I grew up a huge Celtics fan in the 80's. In 1986 the Celtics had arguably the greatest team in NBA history. Michael Jordan single-handedly embarrassed that team! I loved Bird, but I had to admit that he wasn't anywhere close to Jordan's level. There was absolutely no answer for Jordan, I was reluctant at first, but became a huge Jordan fan. Kobe is a great player but nobody was on Jordan's level. He almost beat the 86 Celtics in the playoffs. Boston had Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ, Ainge, Bill Walton. Jordan had Dave Corzine at center, Sidney Green, Kyle Macy, and Snooki from Jersey Shore at power forward! Michael Jordan"the best there ever was, the best there ever will be".

All the great artists emulate the greatest to come before them before they themselves become the next generation's chosen reflection. How many players are now modeling themselves after Kobe?

The beauty of this video is watching two masters of the game, and realizing that they have a major connection in playing at the level they do; so much so, that they are like brothers.

In terms of comparing the two, Kobe has openly differed to Michael, out of respect for who came first. But if Kobe wins another championship with the Lakers, he will have done it with three totally different lineups, a feat for which there is no antecedent.

A debate of who the greatest is??? Let me know who you are and give me your address so that I can send you a pair of "Air Kobes". Jordan is the greatest, and by far. 6 times champion, 6 times finals MVP.

Wed, Aug 6, 2014 at 8:46pm

LeBron wishes he could that close to the top of the food chain. Jordan bar none best ever Kobe close second LeBron maybe top 5 maybe

With all the talk about Kobe playing in a modern league with the crazy athletes around, what swings it in MJ's favor was that defenders were more technically sound back in the day. That and defenders could straight up MUG offensive players in MJ's day. The "Jordan Rules" thuggish defensive tendencies that were allowed back then wouldn't fly in today's game. Jordan did what he did against some of the best defenders that ever played, who were given free reign to be as nasty and borderline violent as could be.

Like I've said from the beginning when I first saw Kobe play his first game. 'I thought I was watching MJ all over again'

Fri, Aug 8, 2014 at 6:58pm

i dont know why people doubt jordan being the greatest of all time, all his accomplishments speakk for themselves; look at all the records jordan broke and set. 2 olympic gold metals, scoring champ, defensive player of the year, mvps, finals mvps, 6 rings, all nba 1st teams. No other player in history has done this in their careers, muchless gotten close! so ya jordan's by far the best in the nba's
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